Aim: To evaluate a possible relationship between body mass index and fetomaternal blood flow parameters in women with term pregnancy.
Material and Methods: This study was performed on pregnant women undergoing routine third trimester ultrasound scans. Women were divided into four groups [underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.524.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30 kg/m2)]. The uterine artery (UtA), umbilical artery (UA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) were examined using color Doppler according to the standard protocols. The systole/diastole (S/D) ratio, pulsatility index (PI), and resistance index (RI) values of UtA, UA and MCA were recorded.
Results: All Doppler findings were found to be similar among normal weight, overweight and obese women. There was a positive correlation between UtA-RI and maternal BMI (r=0.350; p
Key words: Body mass index; doppler ultrasonography; middle cerebral artery; obesity; umbilical artery; uterine artery
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